Archive for the ‘NBA 2012’ Category

Crowd dressed in blue, chanting loudly “Beat L.A., beat L.A.” Though, in a few years, if things keep up, they will be chanting this against the Clippers. This sorta worries me, I need the Lakers to be villains for me to actively root against, but if they turn into a middle-of-the-pack team, then there’s no risk of them winning the championship. So, off-season job Lakers, get better so I can boo louder.

Start of the game, Lakers win jump ball, the Thunder steal the ball, and Thunder layup. Twenty seconds in, and I’m excited for the game, even though I knew the outcome of the series!

Two minutes into the half, 24 point Thunder lead. Awesome!

Kobe moments I enjoyed

ex-Laker Fisher, keeps Kobe out of his preferred shooting spot

Kobe gets the ball near the hoop and is suddenly swarmed with a triple-team, misses shot

First quarter everything seemed to be going Miami’s way, and shots that normally would go in for the Thunder (Durrant open mid-range jumper, Westbrook layup, Perkins at the rim) just bounced off the rim. For Miami, Shane Battier seems to have been assigned, “harass whoever has the ball!” One sequence I saw him go from Westbrook to Perkins. He switched off of Harden to take a charge from Durrant, and picked himself up off the floor fast enough to tip the ball to Wade. And Battier hit five three pointers, showing you can’t leave him open.

I had forgotten how quick and good Chris Bosh is.

Wade, fakes the jumper, Durrant is tricked and jumps up to block, then as gravity pulls Durrant back down, Wade steps in, draws contact as Durrant crashes onto him, and gets the foul.

And yet…only a four point win by the Heat. The Heat should be nervous, because even though they started with 18-2 lead, the Thunder came back and it was close at the end. Fun, fun, fun!

You would think, a game 7 would be exciting. And I suspect it was for some, considering there were 15 lead changes by the end of the third quarter. But the scoring was really low… 55 to 56 after 36 minutes. Sheesh.

Pregame, from Memphis coach, “Go out, leave it all on the court,…enjoy the game, have a good time…” What type of motivation is that? Keep it simple. Reinforce the positive things your team does.

The fans seemed alright in Memphis, most had on white team t-shirts, waving yellow towels…pretty good… (but I was much more impressed with OKC fans, very loud, almost all of them in blue from last nights game.)

Yes, tonight I was watching a game from a month ago. MyBetterHalf said, “first round game? but neither of these teams are in it anymore”

At the beginning of the game, MrGrunty asked me who I wanted to win. I told him I don’t know, that I like both teams. He said, “but one team is not going to win.”

First quarter, a beautiful example of basketball. Defenses were hustling, passes to the open player, scrums for the loose ball. Looked like too many offensive rebounds, I watched Duncan get his own missed shot twice in a row, just out powering the defenders. Then Westbrook got his own rebound, after he shot a long two and the ball ricocheted back to him. By the end of the quarter, I wasn’t sure who would win. And then, Ginoboli hits the 3 as time expired, after he ran, turned, caught a pass, tossed it up, and fell out of bounds! Maybe the Spurs will win. (Score, 18-24 – Spurs lead)

2nd quarter – started a bit worse, not so pretty, a bunch of bench guys. And at the end, Fisher hits the three to make it 47 – 46, Thunder in the lead.

End of the third, Thunder are up by nine. But, with both of these teams, points can quickly be made by capitalizing on opponents mistake. If the Thunder can remain focused…

Saw clip of Coach Poppovich telling the Spurs, “You’re being too tentative… this isn’t supposed to be easy…”

4th quarter, only 7:52 left in the game, and the game is tied at 73. Wow, this is fun.

Spurs won. I don’t understand why Thunder started fouling the with only a few seconds left, had they started that when there was a minute left, and they were down by only six… I dunno.

But I do know who I want to win. I want ME to win. And if this series goes to seven games, then I win. Many thanks to the Spurs and the Thunder for 48 minutes of quality basketball. I hope the rest of the NBA was paying attention.

I kept checking the score, whilst getting the childrens ready for bed. Thunder were consistently down by ten. Ugh. Didn’t want the stoopid Lakers to even up the series. After I finally left the childrens’ bedroom, I tentatively turned on the TV, … Thunder down by seven, and then ten, and then catching up… finally tied game with 64 seconds left!! I texted MyBetterHalf, but she couldn’t get to a TV, so I called and gave her a play-by-play.

(Note, a few minutes before, Kobe, being defended by James Harden, Harden breathing on Kobe, hand in Kobe’s face…Kobe hits a three pointer, nothing but net.)

Tied game, Thunder has the ball, Kevin Durrant dribbling, about four feet away from top of the three point line. MetaWorldPeace is at the three point line, defensive stance, crouched down, arms wide, ready for which ever way Durrant dribbles. Durrant throws the ball, basket! Thunder up by three.

Kobe then takes a shot for the Lakers…(remember his freakishly improbable shot from above?) but luckily, Kobe misses. JamesHarden grabs the rebound, is fouled. Makes both free-throws, Thunder up by five.

And thunder go on to win.

I hope the Laker’s spirit was crushed. Well, at least the role players and their centers. Kobe won’t be crushed, and Meta plays tough always. But just those two won’t be able to bring about a win in OK-City.

When we were playing basketball on the deck, MrGrunty announced, “Papa, JamesHarden is the number 13 teamer.”

I turned on the game was worried that Lakers were off to a 8 – 0 start.

Was watching the game with MyChildrens, MyBetterHalf went to Spokane.

MrGrunty’s favorite players: James Harden, Kobe & BlakeGriffen

MsSqueaky’s favorite players: JamesHarden, Pau Gasol

MrCuddles copied and likes JamesHarden

MrGrunty was cheering on James Harden, MrG seems to like the silly big beard JamesHarden wears.

It was a very entertaining game, many lead changes…stoopid Lakers win at the end. I am a bit disappointed that MetaWorldPeace decided to kneel on Russel Westbrook after the whistle was blown to stop play. Meta, please, be a better man. Kevin Durrant amazing with some impossible trick shots that somehow went in the basket.

Watched the last half of the game, with MrGrunty sitting next to me. I was rooting for the Heat, he was rooting for the Pacers, maybe because he was bit mad at me because I let MrCuddles play basketball with us, and when MrG screamed and refused to get out of the way, I put him in timeout. I think we’re cool, now. During timeouts we would play catch, and MrG was excited that he was catching the ball, using only his hands. Which is kinda funny, because moments ago, MrCuddles was excited to catch the ball, using his hands and face.

Stoopid Lakers. Stoopid having two good seven footers, and Kobe who can make amazing shots from stoopid three-point range with a defender in his face, and stoopid having (very possibly) crazy* Meta-World-Peace who can defend great.

Denver, you had your chances… I saw too many throw the ball away turnovers that should have been fast-break baskets.

It was a good, close game 7.

Hoping the Thunder quickly defeat the Lakers in the next round.

*So, my impression, is Meta has psychological issues, but is attempting to get help, but every now and then, he will “fall of the wagon” so to speak, and, give someone a concussion. I like how Meta is bringing awareness to mental-health problems, how he donated his championship reason to help mentally ill. He seems much happier in LA, and he seems to accept his role. But, the real thing that makes me think he is actually crazy, is how he keeps shooting 3-pointers. He’s not that good from downtown, but gets lucky enough so that he forgets about all his misses, and thus keeps shooting them.

Hey Sports Fans. I was about to sit down and watch another game, but then I noticed that Denver was beating the Lakers by like 15 points midway through the fourth quarter.

Dude!

So I had to watch, to see how it would end. Score kept about the same, then with only a couple of minutes left… Bynum, Gasol & Bryant all on the floor, showing what they can do. Easy buckets, offensive rebounds for second-chance shots… and get this… Kobe, wide open, hits the 3. Then again. Finally, somebody gets in Kobe’s face, and Kobe nails the shot.

Dude!

About this time, MyBetterHalf is about to go to bed, but sat down to watch. Thankfully, the Nuggets kept enough composure to hold on and win the game.